Wesley Corpus

Letter on Preaching Christ Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 11 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- LoNDoN, December 20, 1751. THE point you speak of in your letter of September 21 is of a very important nature. I have had many serious thoughts concerning it, particularly for some months last past; therefore, I was not willing to speak hastily or slightly of it, but rather delayed till I could consider it thoroughly. I mean by preaching the gospel, preaching the love of God to sinners, preaching the life, death, resurrection, and inter cession of Christ, with all the blessings which, in consequence thereof, are freely given to true believers. By preaching the law, I mean, explaining and enforcing the commands of Christ, briefly comprised in the Sermon on the Mount. Now, it is certain, preaching the gospel to penitent sinners “begets faith; ” that it “sustains and increases spiritual life in true believers.” Nay, sometimes it “teaches and guides” them that believe; yea, and “convinces them that believe not.” So far all are agreed. But what is the stated means of feeding and comforting believers? What is the means, as of begetting spiritual life where it is not, so of sustaining and increasing it where it is?f Here they divide. Some think, preaching the law only; others, preaching the gospel only. I think, neither the one nor the other; but duly mixing both, in every place, if not in every sermon. I think, the right method of preaching is this: At our first beginning to preach at any place, after a general declaration of the love of God to sinners, and his willingness that they should be saved, to preach the law, in the strongest, the closest, the most searching manner possible; only intermix ing the gospel here and there, and showing it, as it were, afar off. After more and more persons are convinced of sin, we may mix more and more of the gospel, in order to “beget faith,” to raise into spiritual life those whom the law hath slain; but this is not to be done too hastily neither.